PRW April Post – Congressman Chris Stewart

This month at PRW, we were delighted to have Congressman Chris Stewart as our featured speaker. Chris is the Congressman from Utah’s Second Congressional District. He presently serves as a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Intelligence Committee.

After graduation from Utah State University, Chris joined the United States Air Force where he was the Distinguished Graduate (top of his class) in both Officer Training School and Undergraduate Pilot Training. He served for 14 years as a pilot in the Air Force, flying both rescue helicopters and the B-1B bomber. He holds three world speed records, including the world’s record for the fastest non-stop flight around the world. Chris is also a No. 1 New York Times best-selling and national award-winning author. He has written 17 books, several of which have been published in six different countries. Before being elected to Congress, Chris served as president and CEO of the Shipley Group, a nationally recognized firm for consulting expertise in energy and the environment.

Because of Congressman Stewart’s background, the discussion at PRW’s meeting was National Security and concerns around:

ISIS

Russia…we should be very wary of what Putin is “rebuilding”.

China…doesn’t believe the U.S. will challenge them.

Iran…”Give me a single example of anyone developing missile technology who is not tied to nuclear warheads.”

North Korea…its president is basically insane.

Our next president has a nearly overwhelming challenge and will be saturated rebuilding our alliances. The U.S. has had some alliances for 240 years…even the U.K., Jordan and Israel aren’t sure if the U.S. can be trusted. Our allies need to be reassured that America can be trusted.

Questions from PRW

Q: What is the role of the State Department in these matters of rebuilding alliances?

A: We have a lot of diplomacy to do to rebuild the alliances. It will require muscle and diplomacy.

Q: Regarding the Supreme Court nominee, I think we should be dealing with that now and not wait. Our delegation should vet it now.

A: Congressman Stewart agrees to disagree: 1) Democrats will use it as a political bludgeon against the GOP, and 2) we are learning that Obama’s nominee is not a moderate and this will impact us for the rest of our lives.

Q: What is your major fear if we have a Clinton presidency?

A: Hillary has been pulled so far to the left. She is the only openly corrupt person to seek the presidency. Congressman Stewart has read these 29 emails and knows they contained classified sources and they do reveal human assets. That’s part of the reason the emails cannot be released: they list human assets. She doesn’t have judgment or character to be president.

Q: How can we assist refugees?

A: On one hand we want to help but on the other we need to be careful about refugees who will endanger America. ISIS has infiltrated the “West” through the refugee program. ISIS makes original documents because they control the governments. So right now, don’t let those coming directly from Syria into the U.S. but instead, provide safe zones in their own country. That helps take care of basic needs but doesn’t endanger U.S. security. If you want to help these refugees, we need to bring stability to the region because they want to stay in their homes and cannot. There is a plan to defeat ISIS that is doable. The LDS Church also has a website link to help refugees.

Q: What is the situation surrounding the Puerto Rico bailout?

A: Rob Bishop is not in favor of a bailout. There is no effort in Congress to bailout Puerto Rico and there is no effort to provide funding to the creditors. The current “ads” are totally misleading.